MEDIEVAL AMPULLA

1250

A lead alloy pilgrim's ampulla dating from the Medieval period, about AD 1250 - 1500. The ampulla is of the familiar miniature phial shape but the top of the eck and the handles are missing. The top of the neck has been cut off on an oblique angle, probably when it was opened to use the contents.The obverse is decorated with a lis set within a circle. The lis is very thin and spacious, rather than the traditional close, neat fleur-de-lis seen on other ampullas. The reverse of the ampulla has a crown with a central lis and two half-lis at either end. The crown is double banded and sits above what may be a capital 'T' in Lombardic style, probably to signify St Thomas of Canterbury.The ampulla has a cream coloured patina. It is 38mm long, 35.2mm wide and 9.6mm thick. 30.2g. There is a deep (patinated) gouge across the side with a fleur. Compare HESH-8CE9E4, LIN-25E422 and other examples on the database of the same design. Pilgrim badges in the shape of a letter T commemorating Thomas Becket are discussed on page 121 of Spencer 1998.An ampulla is a miniature flask or phial that carried holy water dispensed to pilgrims at shrines and holy wells, and are basically a pilgrim souvenir. They could be suspended and worn around the pilgrim's neck, or hung up in houses and barns. The water within them may have been in contact with a relic associated with different Saints, and the designs on the ampullas often reflected the figure or relic they were associated with.